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Saturday, 31 March 2012

Day 44: Wisdom Chapter 8

Solomon continues his description of Wisdom. He tells us how he fell in love with her beauty, how he wanted her to be his bride. Again he stresses her closeness to God - she is loved by him, she is familiar with his mysteries and helps determine his course of action.
This is sailing dangerously close to the wind of Jewish monotheism. There is one strand of Jewish thought that wants to emphasise that God is unique and alone, no one and nothing comes close to him. “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This strand of thought is much closer to the Christian understanding of the Trinity, of God as a community of loving beings.
Solomon decides that what he needs in life is Wisdom. She will give him everything. He wants to take her home with him. So he pleads with God to be allowed to do this.
Again, this is dangerous language. It is coming close to the territory of idolatry. Lots of peoples like to take their gods home with them, and would be devastated if their precious gods were stolen. Remember Laban? (Genesis 31:35)
What will God say to Solomon’s bold and importunate prayer?

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